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Chinese president Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Donald Trump in a telephone conversation on Tuesday that the two countries should take constructive approaches in order to properly settle economic and trade issues which concern both sides, thereby making a bigger ‘cake of cooperation’.

Xi said that China-US relations were generally stable in 2017, but keeping them on the right track would benefit the citizens of both countries and encourage world peace, prosperity and stability. The two sides should therefore respect each other and deal with sensitive issues in a constructive manner, reports China Central Television.

Xi also mentioned that China and the US should enhance their cooperation in areas such as military, law enforcement, anti-drugs measures and culture. High-level dialogue mechanisms should continuously be carried out to ensure better communication, he concluded.

When asked about the Korean Peninsula issue, Xi told Trump that there had been ‘positive changes’ and called for joint efforts to create the conditions necessary for a resumption of dialogue.

Trump, who accused the Chinese of secretly selling oil to North Korea last month, said China plays a key role in tackling the issue and that the US is willing to work more closely with Xi to resolve the crisis.